Plaiting-machine.



Patented Aug. 22, I899.

R.-F. COLEMAN.

PLAITING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 3, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet N (No Model.)

No. 63!,537. Patented Aug. 22, 1899. R. F. COLEMAN.

P LAITING MACHINE. (Applicatioiz filed June a, 1899.)

m m W 1?. A v a 1 1 wN QM w k flwm rw w MW w: m \N M l WM ,r 1 1 I m 1% n. & W W

1111 m w a mix a 1 1 an m H UNITED STATES PATENT ROBERT-FRANKLIN COLEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLAITING -fMACHINE.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters l atent No.-631,537, dated August 22, 1899-.

Application filed June 3, 1899 Serial No. 719,280- (No model.) v

To all 1077,5711 it may concern: Be it known that LROB'ERT FRANKLIN Coiznf MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Plaiting-Maehineiof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fabric-plaiting machines; and the primary object in View is to provide a simple structure in which the parts are constructed for operation in a manner which facilitates the plaiting or creasing of the fabric. v A further object is to enable the machine to be adjusted and manipulated to produce either narrow or wide plaits on fabrics of different thicknesses, as well as to plait curved fabrics, such as collars on wearing-apparel.

With these ends in View the invention consists in the combination of elements and in the novel construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. V

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated a -preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plaitihgmachine constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the series of insertible knives or blades removed from the rack-bars of the machine. Fig. 2 is a' vertical longitudinal sectional elevation through v the ma} chine and on an enlarged scale as compared with Fig. 1, showing a number of the insertible blades fitted in the rack-bars and representing by dotted lines a fabric adapted to have plaits formed therein. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section at one end of the machine, showing the parts adjusted to form comparatively narrow plaits. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, with the parts adjusted to form wide plaits in the fabric. -Fig. 6 is a detail section similar to Figsx iand 5, but illustrating the manner of grouping the pivoted blades and the arrangement of the insertible blades to enable the machine tobe used on fabrics of different thicknesses. Fig.

7 is an enlarged sectional elevation looking at one face of a ipivote'd leaf and'showing a vertically-adjustable bearing by'which the rack-bar may be raised or loweredindependently of the adjustment afforded by moving the leaf on its pivotal connection with the base. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the knives or blades. Fig. 9 is a similar View of a double clamping-blade adapted to be inserted in the machine and form one of the series of movable blades. The same numerals of reference aroused to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying my invention'into practice I employ a base or bed 10 of any suitable construction and size, and at its sides this bed is equipped with parallel rails 10. Said rails support orcarry the metallic bearing-plates 11,which are suitably secured in parallel relation one with the other to the rails 10, as shown by Fig. 3. My machine is equipped with a series of permanent blades or knives 12, which are pivotally hung in the bearing-plates 11, and these permanently pivoted plates are movable individually or collectively on their pivotal connections with'the bearing-plates 11. In the constructionof the machine I may make the side rails separate from the bed 10 and secure said rails in place in any suitable way, or the bed and its side rails may be of wood or metal in a single piece. In the event of makingthe bedof metal the bearing-plates 11 may be integral therewith; but these details may be changed by the skilled constructor within the scope of the present invention. 1 1

Each blade constituting one of the series of permanently-pivoted blades consists of a pintle-rod 13 and a sheet-metal plate which is doubled or looped at 15 around the pintlerod, and the blades constituting the series of permanently-pivoted blades of the machine are'of corresponding formand size. f

The metallic bearing-plates llare provided with a horizontal series of openings 16, the openings in each bearing-plate lying in the same horizontal plane and saidbearing-plates being fixed to the bed or the rails 10*thereof described construction and arrangement of the metallic bearing-plates provide for the pivotal support of each of the series of permanent blades 12 in the same horizontal plane, and these blades are arranged for the doubled lower edges 15 thereof to lie on corresponding sides, as clearly shown by Figs. 2 and 1 to 6, inclusive, in order that the blades may overlap or bear one against the other in a very compact manner and to accommodate the fabric and insertible blades without moving the permanently pivoted blades out of their proper working positions.

In connection with the permanently-pivoted series of blades 12 I employ a series of insertible blades 25, and for supporting these insertible blades in operative relation to the permanent blades and for adjusting the insertible blades with relation to the permanent blades the machine is equipped with the leaves or plates 17 18 and the rack-bars 2O 21. The leaves or plates 17 18 are arranged at opposite ends of the series of permanent blades 12, and said leaves are pivoted individually, as at 19, to the bearing-plates 11 on the machine-bed. Each leaf or plate is a comparatively thick plate of metal which exceeds in width and thickness the individual blades 12 01-25. The pivoted leaves 17 18 are adapted to carry the rack-bars 20 21 by the means which will hereinafter be described, and these rack-bars are adjustable vertically with the leaves 17 18 in a manner to be raised or lowered with relation to the horizontal plane of the pivotal connections between the permanent leaves and the metallic plates 11.

One of the important features of my invention consists in disposing the pivots 19, which connect the pair of leaves to the bearingplates 11, in the same horizontal plane as the series of pintle-rods 13 for the permanentlypivoted blades 12, and thus the leaves 17 1S sustain the rack-bars 20 21 in corresponding relation to the pivots of the permanent leaves 12 at all times and notwithstanding the variation in the elevation of the rack-bars with relation to the pivots of the permanent leaves, whereby the insertible blades 25 may be fitted to and supported by the rack-bars in positions to properly engage with the fabric which is to be plaited by doubling or folding the same between the contiguous overlapping edges of the two series of permanent and insertible blades 12 25, respectively.

The rack-bars 20 21 are supported by the pivoted leaves in parallel relation one to the other and adjacent to the ends of the permanent leaves 12, (see Fig. 3,) and these rackbars are adapted to be raised or lowered by moving the leaves on their pivots 10, so as to support the series of insertible blades at variable distances above the pivots 13 of the permanent blades, thus adapting the machine for making plaits of different widths in the fabric. Each rack-bar is provided in its upperedge with a series of notches 22, separated by a corresponding series of teeth 24, said notches being spaced apart for distances equivalent to the spaces between the pivotal attachment of the pintle-rods 13 to the bearing-plates 11.

Each blade forming one of the series of insertible blades 25 is similar in construction to the permanently-pivoted blades 12that is to say, each insertible blade is provided with a pintle-rod 26, around which is doubled one edge of the sheet-metal blade. In manipulating the machine the insertible blades are adjusted for the pintle-rods 26 thereof to enter the notches 22 of the rack-bars, and care should be taken to have the insertible blades 25 occupy corresponding positions between the series of teeth on the rack-barsthat is to say, the looped portions of the blades 25 should all face in a corresponding direction.

For holding the end of the fabric in starting the operation of plaiting the same I employ a double clamping-blade 27, (see Figs. 4, '5, and 6,) adapted to engage with the first or second notches of the rack-bars at the ends thereof contiguous to the leaf 17. This clamping-blade consists of a piece of sheet metal doubled or folded upon itself for its members to lie in slightly-divergent positions and to embrace a pintle-rod 28, the latter being held in the looped edge or bight of the doubled blade and adapted to suspend said blade from the rack-bars 20 21.

My machine is equipped with a slidable carriage 29, which receives the fabric and is adj ustable on the bed for placing the fabric under the desired tension in the operation of forming the plaits therein. Said carriage is constructed to span the two series of permanent and insertible blades in order that its clamp may travel thereover, and the side bars of said carriage are provided with slides 30, which are fitted upon the side edges of the bed 10. The sides of the carriage have the slides 30 fastened thereto or made integral therewith, and the carriage sides are adapted to embrace the vertical side faces of the bed, while the slides rest upon the top face of the bed, whereby the carriage is held or confined slidably on the bedto travel in a direction longitudinally thereof. This carriage supports a two-part clamp, one member 31 of which clamp is secured to the sides of the carriage, while the movable clamp member 32 is connected adjustably to the fixed clamp member 31. The movable clamp member is arranged parallel and above the permanent clamp member, and the member 32 is provided with binding-screws 33, which find suitable threaded bearings in the clamp member 31. The opposing faces of the two clamp members are lined with gripping-surfaces 34 of leather, rubber, or any other suitable material which will insure good frictional contact between the clamp members and fabric adapted to be interposed therebetween. It is evident that the movable member 32 may be adjusted away from the fixed clamp member 31 for the insertion of the work or fabric between the jaws of the clamp. The screws 33 may then be adjusted to make the movable member 32 confine the fabric between itself and the fixed member 31, and the slid-. able carriage, with the work gripped therein, may then be adjusted away from the leaf 17 in order to hold the fabric under tension. As the carriage is confined slidably on the base, it is evident that the operator may draw on the fabric to move the carriage toward the leaf 17 as the work of plaiting the fabric progresses, and in this operation the attendant should clamp the plaited work with one hand while pulling on the fabric with the other hand to adjust the carriage, thus enabling the carriage to keep the fabric under slight tension.

I will now proceed to describe the means by which the rack-bars 2O 21, which carry the series of insertible blades 25, may be adjusted vertically irrespective of any vertical adj ustment with the pivoted leaves and by which each rack-bar may be raised or lowered independently of the other rack-bar for making the lower edges of the series of insertible blades occupy inclined positions relatively to the plane of the upper edges on the permanently-pivoted blades. Each leaf 17 or 18 is provided at its ends with the guides 35, which may be formed by producing recesses or slots in said ends of the leaves. Slidable bearings 36 are confined in these guides 35, so as to be supported therein, and said bearings are adjustable toward or from the pivots 19 of the leaf by adj listing-screws 37, said screws having threaded engagement with the slidable bearings 36. Each rack-bar 20 or 21 is carried by a rock-shaft 38, to which the rack-bar is firmly secured, and each rock-shaft is journaled in bearings 36 at corresponding ends of the pivoted leaves. It is therefore to be understood that rock-shafts 38 are supported in bearings at the ends of the two leaves for maintaining the rack-bars 20 21 in parallel relation at the ends of the series of permanent pivoted blades 12. The rock-shafts are mounted loosely in the bearings, so as to turn therein independently of any adjustment of i the bearings under the influence of the screws or with the pivoted leaves, and the employment of these rock-shafts enables the rackbars to be inverted and assume the positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 for the purpose of presenting the toothed edges of the rack-bars in engagement with the upper edges of the permanent pivoted blades 12, thuslocking or confining said blades in their adjusted positions. The rock-shafts are extended at one end beyond the bearings and provided with crank-handles 39, which enable said shafts to be conveniently turned for invert-' ing the rack-bars 2O 21; but these crankhand-les are connected by a coiled spring 40 or other equivalent device adapted to normally maintain the rock-shafts and the rackbars in positions indicated by full lines in the several figures of the drawings, and thus adapted to support the insertible blades in proper relation to the pivoted blades.

41 design ates guide-bars arranged outside of the rack-bars 2O 21 in parallel relation thereto, and these guide bars have their ends flanged or bent inward, as at 42, in order that they may be united firmly to the slidable bearings 36. V erally with respect to the rack-bars for the ends of the blade-pintles 26 to abut against said guide-bars on the insertion of the blades in the notches of the rack-bars, and as the guide-bars are mounted on the bearings which carry the rack-bars said guide-bars are adjustable with the bearings to maintain their parallel operative relation to the rack-bars for the proper engagement of the pintle-rods 26 therewith under all adjustments of the rack-bars.

To maintain the leaves in their adjusted positions for supporting the series of insertible blades in proper relation to-the permanent pivoted blades, a suitable locking device is employed in connection with one or the other of the leaves 17 18. This locking device is shown by Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6 as consisting of a clamping-plate 43, which is attached firmly to one of the leaves, preferably the leaf 17. The fixed post 45 is provided on the bed 10, near one end thereof, and this post carries or supports a clamping-screw 46, which passes through a slot 44, which is produced in the plate 43. The clamping-plate has a segmental edge which is graduated to form an indicator-gage adapted to traverse an index or pointer 47 on the post 45.

The operation of plaiting the fabric may be described as follows: The operator adjusts the leaves 17 18 to support the rack-bars at the proper elevation above the series of permanent leaves 12, according to the desired width of the plaits, and the clamping-screw 46 is then manipulated to firmly hold the plate 43 and the connected leaves in their proper positions. The fabric of proper thickness is laid across the series of blades 12, which are inclined away from the leaf 17, and the fabric is then adjusted in the clamp of the slidable carriage, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The doubled clamping-blade 27 is then adjusted to the edge of the fabric, and this blade is supported in the first or second notches of the rack-bars 20 21. the series of pivoted blades 12 is then turned with its pintle-rod to assume the inclined po- The guide-bars are spaced lat- IIO The first of sition shown at the left in Figs. 2, 4, and 5,

thus making the upper edge of the firstblade 12 overlap the lower edge of the insertible clamping-blade 27. The fabricis now drawn toward the operator stationed at the leaf 17, and the first of the series of insertible blades 25 is then adjusted in the next notches of the rack-bars in position to have its lower edge overlap the upper edge of the first blade 12, thus folding the fabric between the overlapping edges of the blade 12 and the blades 27 28. The second blade of the series 12 is then inclined toward the leaf, and the third blade 25 is then inserted, after which the operation is continued until the proper length of fabric has been plaited. During the plaiting of the fabric the slidable carriage 29 is advanced or drawn toward the leaf 17, and at the proper time the fabric is released from the clamp, drawn through said clamp and the carriage, and then the carriage is moved backward. It is desirable that the plaited fabric may remain in engagement with the lower series of permanent blades for a short time after all the blades shall have been adjusted, as herein described, and to confine the permanent blades in their proper positions, as well as to provide for the ready disengagement of the series of insertible blades from the fabric without disturbing the plaits thereof, I proceed to turn the crank-handles 39 of the rock-shafts 38 in opposite directions. This operation distends the spring 40 as the cranks move from the lower center to the upper center, so that the shafts will reverse the positions of the rack-bars 2O 21 in order to disengage the series of insertible blades from the notches in said rack-bars. This reversal of the rack-bars by turning the shafts thereby frees the insertible blades from the plaits of the fabric, and the toothed edges of said rackbars are presented opposite to the series of permanent blades 12, so as to confine the latter in their proper positions when the leaves are properly adjusted to sustain the rackbars in relation to the permanent blades. To

- permit the rack-bars to be reversed, as herein described and as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the slidable bearings 36 are extended from the leaves for proper distances, as shown by Fig. '7, as to permit of the inversion of the rack-bars, and the spring 40 serves to draw the crank handles toward each other for maintaining the rack-bars in their inverted positions. To regulate the width of the plaits in the fabric, it is only necessary to raise or lower the rack-bars in order to present the insertible blades in such relation to the permanent blades as will vary the extent of overlapping between the two series of blades, and this may readily be obtained by raising or lowering the connected leaves 17 18 on their pivotal connections 19 with the bearingplates. In Fig. 4 I have shown the rack-bars and leaves adjusted to make the two series of blades form comparatively narrow plaits in the fabric; but in Fig. 5 the rack-bars and leaves are lowered somewhat for the upper series of insertible blades to overlap the lower series of permanent blades to a greater extent than in the adjustment shown by Fig. 4, thus adapting the machine to make wider plaits in the fabric.

For adapting the machine to accommodate fabrics which may vary in thickness I may assemble the permanent blades 12 in groups, as shown by Fig. 6, and insert the removable blades at proper distances apart corresponding to the group of the permanent blades, according to the thickness of the fabric. The lower blades may be grouped in pairs and the insertible blades may be fitted in every other notch; but if the fabric is of such thickness as will cause the blades to be improperly positioned owing to the bulk of the fabrics the lower blades may be grouped to have each group comprise three or more blades, in which event the insertible blades should be fitted in every third or fourth notch of the racks, as will be readily understood.

For using the machine on curved work the bearings at one end of the pair of pivoted leaves may be raised to make one rack-bar assume a higher position than the other rackbar or the two rack-bars may be adjusted reversely-that is, one may be raised and the other lowered. This inequality in the position of the rack-bars with relation to the pivots of the permanent blades 12 causes the said rack-bars to support the insertible blades in inclined positions with respect to the horizontal plane of the permanent blades, and thus the extent of overlapping of each insertible blade with relation to its companion permanent blade may be varied throughout the length of the two blades. This adaptation permits the blades to form plaits which are deeper at one end than at the other, and this adjustment is thus especially useful when the machine is used on the collars of wearing-apparel or in making ladies dresses generally.

Changes may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts while their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a base, and a permanent series of blades pivoted thereon, of bars at the ends of the permanent blades, a series of insertible blades fitted removably to said bars and arranged in overlapping relation to the permanent blades, and means for adjusting the bars and the insertible blades with relation to the permanent blades, substantially as described.

2. In a plaiting-maehine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of rack-bars, insertible blades supported by said rack-bars, and means for adjusting the rackbars to variable positions with relation to the pivots of the permanent blades, substantially as described.

3. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of hinged leaves, rack-bars supported by said leaves, and insertible blades carried by said rack-bars in overlapping relation to the permanent leaves, substantially as described.

4. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of hinged blades, of adjustable leaves, rack-bars connected pivotally to said leaves for adjustment therewith and adapted to be inverted for assuming looking positions relatively to the permanent blades, and insertible blades adapted to be supported by said rack-bars, substantially as described.

5. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of

leaves supported pivotally in planes coincident with the pivots of said permanent blades, rack-bars carried by said adjustable leaves, and insertible blades adapted to be supported by said rack-bars in cooperative relation to the permanent blades, substantially as described.

6. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a series of pivoted blades, of verticallyadjustable bars arranged on opposite sides of the pivoted blades, and another series of blades fitted removably to said bars for adjustment therewith, said last-named blades being removable from or fitted to the bars in any desired order with relation to the pivoted blades to overlap the latter, substantially as described.

7. In a'plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of rack-bars adjustable relatively to the permanent blades, insertible blades supported by said rack-bars, and means for adjusting the rack-bars independently of each other for supporting the insertible blades in variable positions relatively to the permanent blades, substantially as described.

8. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a bed, of a series of permanent blades pivoted individually to said bed and in the same horizontal plane thereon, said blades adapted to be engaged individually or in groups with a fabric, rack-bars at the ends of said blades, and insertible blades adapted to be supported individually by said rackbars and to be grouped closely together or spaced apart according to the positions of the permanent blades with relation to the fabric, substantially as described.

9. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of hinged leaves carrying the adjustable bearings, rack-bars mounted in said bearings, and insertible blades adapted for engagement with said rack-bars, substantially as described.

10. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of hinged leaves,rack-bars carried by'said leaves, a clamping device for the leaves, and insertible blades adapted to be supported by the rack-bars, substantially as described.

11. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of rack-bars above said blades, insertible blades adapted to be supported by said rack-bars, and a carriage adapted to travel over the two series of blades and provided with a clamp, substantially as described.

12. In a plaiting-machine, thecombination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of a bed on which said blades are hung, a carriage confined slidably onsaid bed and provided with a clamp, rack-bars in adjustable relation to the permanent blades and below the clamp of said carriage, and insertible blades adapted to be fitted to said rack-bars, substantially as described.

13. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of rack-bars above said blades, a doubled clamp fitted removably to said rack-bars,and insertible blades adapted to be supported by the rack-bars, substantially as described.

let. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of leaves hinged in a plane coincident with the pivot of said blades, adjustable bearings on said leaves, rack-bars supported by said bearings, and guide-bars attached to the bearings for adjustment therewith and with the rackbars, substantially as described.

15. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a permanent series of pivoted blades, of hinged leaves, rock-shafts supported by said leaves and provided with the crank-handles, rack-bars fast with said rock-shafts, a spring connecting said crank-handles, and insertible blades adapted to be carried by said rackbars, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT FRANKLIN COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

DANIEL LUDWIG, SIMON W. SNYDER. 

